Barking apparatus and process therefor

ABSTRACT

A novel barker assembly which in one disclosed embodiment comprises a shell including a stationary housing and rotatable drive rings which are supported on trunnion rollers and located in spaced-apart slots in the housing, the drive rings being rotatably driven in excess of about 7.5 RPMs by suitable drive means. An inner portion of the housing forms a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;battering&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; wall against which the logs are deflected by deflector means to assist in debarking as well as to absorb a major portion of the force of the logs to protect the drive rings. Each drive ring is provided with inwardly projecting pusher elements to move the logs around the contour of the housing. A grillage is provided in the bottom of the housing to permit removal and subsequent conveyance of bark therefrom in a more useable form. High speed roller assemblies are provided for introducing the logs into the barker assembly and to withdraw debarked logs.

United States Patent [191 Schnyder. A

[ BARKING APPARATUS AND PROCESS THEREFOR [76] Inventor: Aux P. Schnyder, 146 Cherry Ln.,

Teaneck, NJ. 07666 [22] Filed: July 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 274,190

[52] U.S. Cl. 144/208 B, 144/311 [51] Int. Cl B271 1/00 [58] Field of Search 144/208 R, 208 B, 309 R,

Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juhasz Assistant Examiner-W. D. Bray W. Tibbott 57 ABSTRACT A novel barker assembly which in one disclosed embodiment comprises a shell including a stationary housing and rotatable drive rings which are supported on trunnion rollers and located in spaced-apart slots in the housing, the drive rings being rotatably driven in excess of about 7.5 RPMs by suitable drive means. An inner portion of the housing forms a battering wall against which the logs are deflected by deflector means to assist in debarking as well as to absorb a major portion of the force of the logs to protect the drive rings. Each drive ring is provided with inwardly projecting pusher elements to move the logs around the contour of the housing. A grillage is provided in the bottom of the housing to permit removal and subsequent conveyance of bark therefrom in a more useable form. High speed roller assemblies are provided for introducing the logs into the barker assembly and to withdraw debarked logs.

, 4 Flame m wissflll s s PATENTEDAPNOIHH' 3L807L469 SHEET 2 BF 4 PATENTEMaao 1914 $807,469

sum an? 4 l 1 BARKING APPARATUS AND PROCESS THEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for removing bark from logs, and more particularly relates to an apparatus particularly adapted for removing the bark from pulpwood.

In known devices, the removal of bark from pulpwood is accomplished either by means of friction, by tumbling or rotating the pulpwood, or by means of mechanical friction or hydraulic action. One of such apparatus extensively used in industry is the barking drum which is capable of quickly and cheaply removing the bark from pulpwood. The conventional barking drum consists essentially of a plurality of large rotating sections and removes the bark from pulpwood by friction primarily through the tumbling action of the logs as they pass through the drum. As a result of the somewhat violent and random tumbling action occurring within the drum,the ends of the pulpwood logs become broomed by the time the logs are discharged from the drum. Brooming during barking accounts for from 2 to 3 percent loss of wood fibers and has a deleterious effect on the quality of the paper if any particles of sand or dirt are present in the barking drum, since such particles are pounded into the broomed ends and are subsequently carried through the delignification and paper making processing steps.

In U.Sl Pat. No. 3,080,898, there is described a tunnel barker comprised of a keyhole-shaped tunnel structure designed to accomodate a rotating scroll cage for moving a stack of generally parallel logs transversely and upwardly along one side of the tunnel whereby the logs roll and cascade about each other for removal of the bark. Such barker obviated some of the problems of the prior art. The'tunnel is of a generally cylindrical shape with the cage including a plurality of angularly spaced pusher elements extending generally longitudinally of the tunnel. The triangularlyshaped pusher elements are rigidly and uniformly connected to a plurality of rings which rotatably support and drive the cage structure. Mechanical drive for the cage may be achieved by at least one driven pinion intermeshed with a gear tooth structure affixed upon one or more of the rings of the cage. Some of these rings may be so constructed as to define part of the perihery of the tunnel, whereas the axially adjacent parts of the inner periphery of the tunnel are defined by stationary concrete structures. At the bottom of the cylindrically shaped portion of the tunnel, there is provided a grillage assembly shaped to the radius or curvature of the tunnel and formed of substantially parallel curved bars. The grillage assembly permits the withdrawal'from the tunnel of the bark removed from the logs passing therethrough. The removed bark drops through the grillage and is thereafter guided by a chute-like structure onto a bark transfer conveyor provided therebeneath.

The capacity of such a tunnel barker is limited by the rotational speed thereof with regard to the necessary support structure for the active mechanism, i.e., a scroll cage positioned on trunnion supports. Thus, for large capacity mills, a plurality of tunnel barkers are required to provide debarked logs for subsequent processing.

The rotational speeds of present day tunnel barkers vary between about 5 to 7.5 RPMs for a 12 foot diameter drum, thus determining the capacity thereof. Generally, at such rotational speeds the logs approach the top of the barker and fall downwardly in an avalanche effect resulting in considerable breakage of thinner logs as well as enhancing brooming of log ends with concomitant fiber losses. At rotational speeds in excess of about 7.5 RPMs, the logs tend to ring about the periphery of the barker thereby preventing barking. Bark particles are formed of diverse sizes and include fiber strings which resulted in bark handling problems for use as by-product fuel.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide a novel barker assembly which obviates the disadvantages hereinbefore mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel barker assembly of substantial increased capacity as compared with present-day barkers of like diameter Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel barker assembly wherein the logs are introduced in a manner to assume parallel relationship prior to joining the log cluster thereby minimizing brooming of log ends.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel barker assembly which requires less maintenance and repairs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel barker assembly which may handle logs of diverse thickness and length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of converting existing drum barkers into high SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other objects of the invention are achieved by a novel barking apparatus which, as in one disclosed embodiment, may comprise a shell including a stationary housing and rotatable drive rings which are rotatably driven in excess of about 7.5 RPMs by suitable drive means. An inner portion of the housing forms a battering wall to absorb a major portion of the force of logs deflected by deflector means towards the battering wall. Each drive ring is provided with inwardly projecting pusher elements to move the logs around the contour of the housing. A grillage is provided in the bottom of the housing to permit removal and subsequent conveyance of bark therefrom in a more useable form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed disclosure thereof especially when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional top view of the barker of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional side view of the barker of FIG. 11 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional side view of the barker of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the grillage taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged, partial sectional view taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a simplified end view of the inlet end of the barker;

FIG. 7 is a simplified end view of the discharge end of the barker;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a support trunnion assembly roller for a drive ring of the barker;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a pinion drive assembly for a drive ring of the barker;

FIG. 10 is a partial plane view of a standard drum barker modified to employ the concept of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along the lines 1111 thereof; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 taken along the lines 12-12 thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Having hereinabove described the nature of the invention, now referring to FIGS. 1 to 9, particularly FIG. 2, there is provided a barker assembly, generally indicated as 10, particularly intended to remove bark from pulpwood logs and comprised of a plurality of concrete stationary housing members 12 and 14 suitably positioned on a base 16. The members 12 and 14 are formed with a plurality of slots 18 and 20, respectively, disposed in parallel alignment and in which are disposed supporting trunnion assemblies, generally indicated as 22, which support respective drive rings, generally indicated as 24. The housing member 12 extends upwardly to the mid point of the barker assembly 10 and is formed with sloping ribs 26 at about 10 lead serving to assist in the positive forwarding oflogs within the log cluster from inlet to outlet, as more fully hereinafter described. The housing member 14 extends upwardly above the mid point and is formed with an inwardly extending side wall 28 (between adjacent slots) forming a braking means or battering wall to assist in debarking the logs being flung against such battering wall 28. The barker assembly 10 is closed by a generally inverted, J-shaped top wall, generally indicated as 30, comprised of a curved leg portion 32 mounted on the top 34 of the structure 12 and a horizontal leg portion 36 mounted to and supported by the top 38 of the structure 14 the horizontal leg portion 36 functioning as a deflector, as more fully hereinafter discussed. The stationary housing members l2, l4 and the drive rings 24, as will become apparent from the following description, together with the top wall form a shell internally receiving the logs to be debarked by the barker assembly 10.

Each drive ring 24 is formed ofa cylindrically-shaped band member 40 on which are mounted a pair of outwardly extending members 42 in which are affixed a plurality of bars 44 which form a rack assembly, as illustrated with particular reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Referring to FIG. 8, the trunnion supporting assembly 22 is comprised ofa guide roller 46 mounted on a shaft 48 journalled for rotation in suitable bearing members 50 positioned on support members 51 within the slots of housings 12 and 14. The drive rings 24 are provided with a plurality of triangularly-shaped pusher elements, generally indicated as 52, suitably affixed such as by welding to the inner surface of the band member 40.

A drive assembly, generally indicated as 54 referring again particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a centrally-disposed electric motor means 56 supported on the housing 14 and having a shaft 58 provided with a gear 60. An endless belt, such as a chain drive 62, is coursed for rotation about the gear 60 and a gear 64 affixed to a horizontally disposed drive shaft 66 journalled for rotation in a plurality of spaced-apart bearing assemblies, generally indicated as 68. A plurality of bevelled pinions 70 are affixed to the shaft 64 at spaced-apart locations thereon corresponding to the positions of the drive rings 24, and are provided with outwardly extending teeth 72 which engage bars 44 of the drive ring 24 to form a rack and pinion assembly for effecting rotation of the drive rings 24 of the barker assembly 10.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the feed end of the barker assembly 10 is formed with an end wall 74 having an opening 76 in an upper right quadrant (when viewed from inside the barker assembly 10). A high speed roller assembly, generally indicated as 78, suitably mounted on a support structure (not shown) is provided to introduce the logs lengthwise into the barker assembly 10 at a high speed rate to assist in the continued maintenance of a paralleled log configuration or cluster. FIG. 7 illustrates somewhat schematically, the withdrawal end of the barker assembly 10 as being essentially open and provided with high speed roller assemblies, generally indicated as 80 and 81, to withdraw rapidly debarked logs reaching the discharge end.

Referring to FIG. 4, a grill-like structure or grillage, generally indicated as 90, is formed in the lower portion of the barker assembly 10 and is comprised of arcuate bars 92, conforming generally to the cylindrical configuration of the circular portion of the housing members 12 and 14. Intermediate portions of the bars 92 may be supported in fixed relationship to each other by reinforcing pipe members 94 or the like extending longitudinally between adjacent drive rings 24 of the barker assembly 10 and passing through and/or being secured to the bars 92, such as by welding. The grillage extends over substantially the entire length of the barker assembly 10 (except for the slots 18 and 20). Movement of the logs along the surface of the grillage 90 is effected by means of the pusher elements 52 provided on the drive rings 24. A conveyor assembly (not shown), such as illustrated in the aforementioned Let-' ters Patent, is provided to withdraw from the barker bark removed from the logs.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 to 12, wherein like numerals designate like parts, there is illustrated another embodiment of the invention in the form of an existing drum barker converted into a high-speed, highcapacity unit. The barker assembly is comprised of a plurality of stationary, generally inverted .I-shaped members 114 disposed between adjacent drum sections, generally indicated as 113, and at the ends of the barker assembly 1 l0 suitably positioned on a base 116. The drum sections 113, as will be seen, form a shell internally receiving the logs to be debarked by the barker assembly 110. Space for such members 114 is obtained by moving longitudinally respective drum sections 113 with regard to the existing drum barker assembly. Each drum section 113 is comprised ofa drum 115 to which is mounted tires 124 supported on trunnions 122. A drive assembly, generally indicated as 154, includes a motor means 156 suitably mounted on the base 116 and including a horizontally disposed shaft 166 journalled for rotation in suitable support assemblies (not shown). A plurality of drive gears 117 are afiixed to the shaft 116 at spaced apart locations; and, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of such drive gears 117 are in driving relationship with drum carried full gears while another thereof is in geared contact with a drive jack assembly, generally indicated as 119, comprised of a gear 121 affixed to shaft 123 on which are mounted trunnion rollers 125 which engage the drive tires 124 of a drum section 113.

A plurality of longitudinally extending l-beam members 127 are disposed within the barker assembly 110 supported on a lower inwardly extending portion 129 of the housing member 114. A solid plate member 131 is positioned within the barker assembly 110 and affixed, such as by welding, to the members 127 to form the braking means or battering wall, such as discussed with reference to the embodiment of P165. 1 to 9. Triangularly-shaped deflector-assemblies, generally indicated as 133 and 135, are formed on the upper portion of the member 114 and, during the rotation of the drum section 113 by the before-described drive assembly 154, deflect logs from being carried circumferentially around the drum sections 113 and towards the before-described battering wall of the barker assembly 110. The deflector assembly 133 generally extends through the first section 113 of the barker assembly 110 with the smaller deflector assembly 135 extending through the remaining portion of the barker assembly 110. A plurality of l-beam members 137 and sheet members 139 suitably affixed to one another, such as by welding, form the deflector assemblies 133 and 135. The logs to be barked are introduced into the barker assembly 110 above the deflector assembly 133 in a manner to permit parallel alignment within the barker assembly 1111 prior to joining the log cluster. The existing bark collecting assembly (not shown) is used to collect and remove bark from the barker as is known and used by those skilled in the art.

in operation of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, the pulpwood logs are continuously introduced into the barker assembly 1110 by the high speed rolls 78 which impart to the logs a ballistic-like trajectory. The logs are forced to align axially in the barker assembly by the pusher elements 52 of the drive rings 24 which sweep the barker assembly 10 the full length thereof together with the effect produced by the logs hitting the battering wall 28. The action of pusher elements 52 causes the logs to rotate within a semi-circular formation as well as to carry the logs up along the elements 52 whereupon the logs are deflected from being carried circumferentially around the shell and flung against the battering ,wall 28 by the horizontal leg portion or deflector 36, the rotational speed of the drive rings 24 being such to carry the logs about the barker assembly 10;, except for the inclusion of the deflector 36 (and battering wall 28). Barking is effected by the frictional forces created by the rotation of the logs within the log cluster with bark being efficaciously loosened by the impact of the logs against the battering wall 28. Since barking is primarily effected by the rotational action of the pulpwood logs within the parallel cluster, brooming of the log ends is substantially eliminated.

The grillage assembly 90 mounted on the bottom of the tunnel permits the loosened bark to drop therethrough to a bark conveyor (not shown) located below the barker, one is essentially simultaneously discharged. The rate at which the logs are introduced into the barker assembly 10 is a function of the type of wood being introduced into the barker. The discharge end of the barker is essentially'open with high speed roller assembly permitting efficient removal of the debarked pulpwood log which are thereafter subse- .quently processed (not shown) for feed stock to a deresult in a design spacing of drive rings of 6.0 feet 6 the grillage assembly. The movement of the logs through the barker assembly 10 is pseudo-hydraulic, i.e., after initial loading, for every log introduced into thereby setting a full width between portions of intermediate housing structures at 5 feet 4 inches with 8 inches wide slots.

The drive rings 24 are driven at a rotational speed which is sufficiently great that, in the absence of the deflector assembly 36 and battering wall, the logs would ring the barker, generally about 7.5 RPMs for a 12 feet diameter tunnel barker. it will be understood that such speed is a function, inter alia, of the diameter of the drive rings 24 as well as the length of the logs to be treated. Accordingly, a 12 feet diameter barker of the present invention is operated at a rotational speed of 25 RPMs to debark 250 cords per hour of Southern pine as compared with 50 cords per hour of a standard three section 12 feet diameter drum barker of like length.

It will be appreciated that the battering wall shields the drive rings (and particularly the trunnion'support members 22 in housing 14) from impact of the logs to thereby reduce materially maintenance requirements. Additionally, the drive assembly insures for proper axial alignment of the pusher elements of the rings. The grillage assembly permits continuous withdrawal and restricts bark particles to passable sizes while slicing fiber strings into passable lengths. Since avalanching of the logs, as existing in tunnel barkers, is inhibited, the drive power requirements are evened out to the benefit of the drive assembly. The logs are maintained in loosely parallel positions; as hereinabove mentioned, as a result of the battering wall which rearranges the flying logs into parallel position at the toe of the cluster surfaces whereas the pusher elements engage the logs in the cluster in submerged position. Accordingly, with the present invention, a high-speed barker assembly and process are obtained which result in substantially greater capacities as compared with conventional tunnel barkers with a concomitant in fiber losses per unit of feed.

While there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it is obvious that other variations may be made and therefore, it is intended that this description be not limiting of the scope of the disclosure except as the invention is defined herein in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for removing bark from pulpwood logs which comprises:

a housing including spaced-apart slots and defining a cylindrically-shaped chamber about a generally horizontal axis, a lower portion of said housing being provided with inwardly extending wall means between said slots;

a plurality of drive rings positioned within said slots and disposed on supporting means, said drive rings having a plurality of pusher elements, said inwardly extending wall means of said housing bisecting the periphery of said drive rings;

means for introducing logs into said housing;

drive means for effecting rotation of said drive rings to cause logs in said housing to be raised in the direction of such rotation and to be hurled against said inwardly extending wall means;

means for removing bark from said housing; and

means for withdrawing debarked logs from said hous- 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for removing bark comprises a grill-like structure which is engageable with at least some of the logs in said housing during rotation of said rings.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a deflector means is provided within the upper portion of said housing above said inwardly extending wall means.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the distance between adjacent intermediate ones of said drive rings is about one-half the length of log to be passed through said apparatus.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the end ones of said drive rings are disposed at about onehalf the distance from the respective adjacent ends of said housing as compared with the distance between adjacent ones of said intermediate drive rings 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the supporting means for said rings includes a plurality of rollers for rotatably supporting said rings in said slots formed in said housing.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a motor, and a shaft driven by said motor and provided with a plurality of pinions, each of which, pinions is associated with a respective ring provided with rack means for engaging the pinion.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the pusher elements on respective rings are in axial alignment with each other.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim I wherein the inlet end of said housing is closed by an end wall having an aperture disposed in an upper quadrant thereof above said inwardly extending wall means.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein a high speed roller assembly is provided outside of said end wall to introduce logs into said housing. I

11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means causes said drive rings to move at a rotational speed in excess of about 7.5 RPMs.

12. A process for removing bark from pulpwood logs which comprises:

introducing logs into a housing defining a chamber;

moving repeatedly said logs about said chamber;

intercepting repeatedly said logs by a portion of said housing;

collecting said logs in about parallel relationship therebetween in a bottom section of said chamber; and

withdrawing debarked log from said chamber.

13. A process for converting a barker including a plurality of subsections, into a high-capacity barker assembly, which comprises:

spacing apart said subsections of said barker;

forming supports at the ends of said subsections, and

providing said subsections with inwardly extending wall means which longitudinally extend through said subsections to bisect the latter and are supported by said supports.

14. The process as defined in claim 13 wherein deflector means is formed in the upper portion of said barker assembly to extend longitudinally through said barker to direct logs towards said inwardly extending wall means.

15. The process as defined in claim 13 wherein said subsections are caused to be rotated at a rotational speed in excess of about 7.5 RPMs.

16. A barker assembly formed of subsections which comprises:

a support housing disposed at the ends of each subsection and defining a cylindrically-shaped chamber, said chamber having an inwardly extending side wall bisecting a portion ofthe circle formed by a subsection;

an inner wall mounted on each side wall of said support housing and extending longitudinally through said barker;

drive means to rotate said subsections;

means to introduce logs into said barker;

means to withdraw bark from said barker assembly removed from said logs; and

means to withdraw debarked logs from said barker assembly. I

17. The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein a deflector assembly is mounted in the upper section of said barker assembly to cause logs to be directed from a circumferential path downwardly against said inner wall.

18. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said drive means causes said subsections to rotate at a rotational speed of at least about 7.5 RPMs.

l9. Barking apparatus comprising a shell adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and including at least a portion rotatable for causing logs in said shell to be raised by its rotation, and deflector means within said shell for deflecting logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said shell by the rotation of said rotatable portion of said shell.

20. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said rotatable portion of said shell is rotatable relative to said deflector means.

21. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising battering wall means within said shell, said deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs towards said battering wall means.

22. Barking apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said deflector means is above said battering wall means.

23. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said shell includes a plurality of spaced-apart stationary sections, and said rotatable portion of said shell includes a rotatable drive ring between said spaced-apart sections.

24. Barking apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising battering wall means within said shell, said 9 deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs towards said battering wall means.

25. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said shell includes at least one rotatable drum.

apart drums, and said deflector means includes a deflector within each said drum.

29. Barking apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each said deflector generally extends through its respective said drum, and said drums are rotatable relative to said deflectors.

30. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an inlet opening at one end of said shell for introducing logs into said shell, said inlet opening being adjacent the upper end of said shell.

31. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising. means forrotatably driving said rotatable portion at a rotary speed of at least about 7.5 revolutions per minute.

32. Barking apparatus comprising a rotatable drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked, and deflector means within said drum for deflecting logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said drum by the drum rotation.

33. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said drum is rotatable relative to said deflector means.

34. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising battering wall means within said drum, said deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs toward said battering wall means.

35. Barking apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said deflector means is above said battering wall means.

36. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said deflector means generally extends through said drum.

37. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising means for rotatably driving said drum at a rotary speed at least about 7.5 revolutions per minute.

38. Barking apparatus comprising a shell for internally receiving logs to be debarked and including at least a portion rotatable for causing logs in said shell to be raised by its rotation, barking means in said shell, and log deflector means in said shell preventing logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said shell by the rotation of said rotatable portion of said shell and deflecting logs therein towards said barking means, said rotatable portion of said shell being rotatable relative to said log deflector means.

39. Barking apparatus comprising a drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and rotatable to cause logs therein to be raised by its rotation, barking means in said drum, and log deflector means in said drum for deflecting logs therein towards said barking means, said drum being rotatable relative to said log deflector means.

40. Barking apparatus comprising a drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and rotatable to cause logs therein to be raised by its rotation, and battering wall means in said drum, said drum being rotatable relative to said battering wall means. 

1. An apparatus for removing bark from pulpwood logs which comprises: a housing including spaced-apart slots and defining a cylindrically-shaped chamber about a generally horizontal axis, a lower portion of said housing being provided with inwardly extending wall means between said slots; a plurality of drive rings positioned within said slots and disposed on supporting means, said drive rings having a plurality of pusher elements, said inwardly extending wall means of said housing bisecting the periphery of said drive rings; means for introducing logs into said housing; drive means for effecting rotation of said drive rings to cause logs in said housing to be raised in the direction of such rotation and to be hurled against said inwardly extending wall means; means for removing bark from said housing; and means for withdrawing debarked logs from said housing.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for removing bark comprises a grill-like structure which is engageable with at least some of the logs in said housing during rotation of said rings.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein a deflector means is provided within the upper portion of said housing above said inwardly extending wall means.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the distance between adjacent intermediate ones of said drive rings is about one-half the length of log to be passed through said apparatus.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the end ones of said drive rings are disposed at about one-half the distance from the respective adjacent ends of said housing as compared with the distance between adjacent ones of said intermediate drive rings
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the supporting means for said rings includes a plurality of rollers for rotatably supporting said rings in said slots formed in said housing.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a motor, and a shaft driven by said motor and provided with a plurality of pinions, each of which, pinions is associated with a respective ring provided with rack means for engaging the pinion.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the pusher elements on respective rings are in axial alignment with each other.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the inlet end of said housing is closed by an end wall having an aperture disposed in an upper quadrant thereof above said inwardly extending wall means.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein a high speed roller assembly is provided outside of said end wall to introduce logs into said housing.
 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means causes said drive rings to move at a rotational speed in excess of about 7.5 RPMs.
 12. A process for removing bark from pulpwood logs which comprises: introducing logs into a housing defining a chamber; moving repeatedly said logs about said chamber; intercepting repeatedly said logs by a portion of said housing; collecting said logs in about parallel relationship therebetween in a bottom section of said chamber; and withdrawing debarked log from said chamber.
 13. A process for converting a barker including a plurality of subsections, into a high-capacity barker assembly, which comprises: spacing apart said subsections of said barker; forming supports at the ends of said subsections, and providing said subsections with inwardly extending wall means which longitudinally extend through said subsections to bisect the latter and are supported by said supports.
 14. The process as defined in claim 13 wherein deflector means is formed in the upper portion of said barker assembly to extend longitudinally through said barker to direct logs towards said inwardly extending wall means.
 15. The process as defined in claim 13 wherein said subsections are caused to be rotated at a rotational speed in excess of about 7.5 RPMs.
 16. A barker assembly formed of subsections which comprises: a support housing disposed at the ends of each subsection and defining a cylindrically-shaped chamber, said chamber having an inwardly extending side wall bisecting a portion of the circle formed by a subsection; an inner wall mounted on each side wall of said support housing and extending longitudinally through said barker; drive means to rotate said subsections; means to introduce logs into said barker; means to withdraw bark from said barker assembly removed from said logs; and means to withdraw debarked logs from said barker assembly.
 17. The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein a deflector assembly is mounted in the upper section of said barker assembly to cause logs to be directed from a circumferential path downwardly against said inner wall.
 18. The assembly as defined in claim 17 wherein said drive means causes said subsections to rotate at a rotational speed of at least about 7.5 RPMs.
 19. Barking apparatus comprising a shell adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and including at least a portion rotatable for causing logs in said shell to be raised by its rotation, and deflector means within said shell for deflecting logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said shell by the rotation of said rotatable portion of said shell.
 20. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said rotatable portion of said shell is rotatable relative to said deflector means.
 21. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising battering wall means within said shell, said deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs towards said battering wall means.
 22. Barking apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said deflector means is above said battering wall means.
 23. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said shell includes a plurality of spaced-apart stationary sections, and said rotatable portion of said shell includes a rotatable drive ring between said spaced-apart sections.
 24. Barking apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising battering wall means within said shell, said deflector means aNd said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs towards said battering wall means.
 25. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said shell includes at least one rotatable drum.
 26. Barking apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said deflector means generally extends through said drum.
 27. Barking apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising battering wall means within said drum, said deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs towards said battering wall means.
 28. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said shell includes a plurality of axially spaced apart drums, and said deflector means includes a deflector within each said drum.
 29. Barking apparatus according to claim 28, wherein each said deflector generally extends through its respective said drum, and said drums are rotatable relative to said deflectors.
 30. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising an inlet opening at one end of said shell for introducing logs into said shell, said inlet opening being adjacent the upper end of said shell.
 31. Barking apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising means for rotatably driving said rotatable portion at a rotary speed of at least about 7.5 revolutions per minute.
 32. Barking apparatus comprising a rotatable drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked, and deflector means within said drum for deflecting logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said drum by the drum rotation.
 33. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said drum is rotatable relative to said deflector means.
 34. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising battering wall means within said drum, said deflector means and said battering wall means being relatively arranged such that said deflector means deflects the logs toward said battering wall means.
 35. Barking apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said deflector means is above said battering wall means.
 36. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said deflector means generally extends through said drum.
 37. Barking apparatus according to claim 32, further comprising means for rotatably driving said drum at a rotary speed at least about 7.5 revolutions per minute.
 38. Barking apparatus comprising a shell for internally receiving logs to be debarked and including at least a portion rotatable for causing logs in said shell to be raised by its rotation, barking means in said shell, and log deflector means in said shell preventing logs therein from being carried circumferentially around said shell by the rotation of said rotatable portion of said shell and deflecting logs therein towards said barking means, said rotatable portion of said shell being rotatable relative to said log deflector means.
 39. Barking apparatus comprising a drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and rotatable to cause logs therein to be raised by its rotation, barking means in said drum, and log deflector means in said drum for deflecting logs therein towards said barking means, said drum being rotatable relative to said log deflector means.
 40. Barking apparatus comprising a drum adapted to internally receive logs to be debarked and rotatable to cause logs therein to be raised by its rotation, and battering wall means in said drum, said drum being rotatable relative to said battering wall means. 